May 2009

Fair Trade Coffee Break Fortnight
Aspin staff once again showed their support of Fair Trade Coffee Break 2nd - 17th May. In a recent Media releaseTackling Poverty Through Trade report revealed that the real, ecomomic, social and environmental impact Australians' ethical coffee choices were making for farmer cooperatives in Africa, the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Australians' daily cup of Fairtrade Coffee is having life-changing impacts for developing country coffee farmers, helping them build roads, schools and a better future. Aspin vouches for coffee products carrying the quality Fairtrade Label, so grab a piece of cake and think about what difference you can make with your next relaxing coffee cup!

To support Fairtrade or for more information go to www.fairtrade.com.au

April 2009

Dr Ron Aspin commences teaching the "Parenting After Separation" mens course in late April for Anglicare Lifeworks. Dr Aspin continues to run Marriage Education programs for Lifeworks plus is working on a range of homelessness projects for the Department of Human Services Victoria. 

News from 2009

Scope Graduation - A day to remember
This date, September 21 2009, will stand out in the memories of many for quite some time. The graduation ceremony for SCOPE Community Educators Certificate III in Business had all the proud moments of achievement and celebration one would expect at a graduation ceremony. In all 17 graduates received their well earned certificates and moment in the spotlight. Emotion filled the room as participants, support people, friends and family shared in what would have been near impossible years ago. You see most of the graduates have a disability but have truly shown that disability means possibility. A day such as this shows the shift of attitude in society and need for disability awareness. Margaret Aspin was bursting with pride for the graduates who undertook a year long course of exceptional effort and study. Guest speaker Maree Ireland from FIELD, who also has a disability, gave an inspirational talk reminding the graduates, though times can be tough to be resilient and continue in the brave and important task they have undertaken as disability leaders and educators. Aspin Group congratulates all the graduates!

To all who presented, including Diana Heggie (Scope CEO), Michael Bink (Scope HR&CD), coordinated, supported and assisted in some way thank you. Aspin Group will in conjunction with Scope produce a case study of this very worthwhile partnership.

Industry Specific Training for the Baking Industry
It was with great joy that Aspin and the Baking Association of Australia won a hotly contested project aimed at embedding blended training within the Baking Industry. Aspin along with business partners SG Innovative Learning Solutions will be delivering industry specific training which will include the Diploma of Management and Certificate IV in Frontline Management. The three year project is funded by the Flexible Learning Framework and will have national coverage. 

Training Available for the Unemployed
We are delighted to have more groups starting for eligible unemployed people. These government funded Customer Contact and Training and Assessment Courses are due to start in April, May and June 2009. People who are unemployed should discuss with our admin team and their Employment Service Provider. 

SCOPE Graduation
SCOPE 2008 Essential Leaders and Potential Leaders graduates have received their Diplomas and Certificates at the Whitehorse Arts Centre on 20th May. The ceremony and luncheon was attended by SCOPE Learning and Development People Advisor, Janet Lewin, General Manager John Fay, Regional Managers, Aspin Director Margaret Aspin and over twenty graduates. Aspin was recognised as playing a pivotol role to the success of the course which was customised to provide optimum benefit to the SCOPE   credit given where credit was certainly due. Congratualtions to all the graduates! 

QR Codes
We are delighted that the Australian Flexible Learning Framework has funded us with Innovations Fund to continue the good work on QR codes in training. Graham Clark is project managing the 2009 project and the original Telematics trust funded project. 

March 2009

Super Tuesday!
On 17 March 2009 bicycle counts under the banner of Super Tuesday were conducted across Australia in Melbourne,Sydney and a number of other municipalities in Victoria.

The results of Melbourne’s count are expected to show another bumper year for bike riders. Riding a bike can hugely cut emissions and help create a positive change to the environment. Aspin Group supports bike riding, when possible, as a chosen alternative for travel to work. A team of more than 500 volunteer counters (in bright green tee-shirts) were seen out on street corners, bike paths, bridges and other vantage points around Melbourne and Sydney for the big event. One of Aspin Group’s staff members and avid rider Graham Clark was present as a volunteer counter in Melbourne CBD.

The Super Tuesday project, coordinated by Bicycle Victoria, aims to establish a reliable annual benchmark for bicycle commuting to allow those providing for bike riding to base their judgments on accurate, relevant and up to date information. Super Tuesday is designed to complement the surveys run on a regular or occasional basis by individual Councils and other entities.

A trial count at a key city location on Tuesday 10 March showed numbers up more than 10 percent on 2008. The count showed that bikes comprised 40 percent of traffic into the city over Princes Bridge in morning peak. Well done Graham and all the volunteers. 

April 2009

Run4Kids
The run was held on Sunday 5th April, starting from Botanic Gardens to St Kilda road, covering a distance of 14.1 kms with approx. 30,000 participants.

Aspin staff member Alick Marks commented that 'this was my first fun run and l had a great sense of achievement when crossing the finish line at 1hr and 55mins'. Only a few aches and pains after the run but an excellent way to participate in a worthwhile cause. Good on you Alick! 

This event raised over $1million for the Childrens Hospital - How good is that!